Celebrating Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day on Sunday, Sept. 5

Thursday

Sept. 5 marks the first commemoration of Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day as a statewide observance throughout New Hampshire thanks to a new bill signed into law by Gov. Lynch.

Sept. 5 marks the first commemoration of Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day as a statewide observance throughout New Hampshire thanks to a new bill signed into law by Gov. Lynch.

In Portsmouth — as always — the day is commemorated with bell-ringing at 3:47 p.m. throughout the area, recalling that on Sept. 5, 1905 at 3:47 p.m., the bells of Portsmouth rang in celebration of the signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty. Signaled from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard where the Treaty signing took place, the bells expressed the joy of the local community who had taken personal interest in the world event happening in their hometown, and reverberated around the world as relief that the bloody conflict between Russia and Japan was over.

On Sunday, Sept. 5, an official US Navy blast on the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard whistle at 3:47 p.m., will serve as the signal for the bells of Portsmouth and Eliot, Maine to ring.

The bell-ringing is organized by the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum with local churches and schools who participate in the bell-ringing each year. The list includes:

Those who would like more information about joining the bell-ringing salute should call Suzanne Moulton at 436-4010.

In addition to these commemorations, Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day will be recognized in Portsmouth with the following events on Sept. 5:

"Theodore Roosevelt's Nobel Peace Prize and the People of New Hampshire" at 4 p.m. - a free, illustrated talk by Charles Doleac, chairman of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum, sponsored by the NH Humanities Council and presented by the Portsmouth Historical Society in the Discover Portsmouth Center (DPC) at the corner of Islington and Middle Streets.

"Portsmouth Remembers the Portsmouth Peace Treaty" -a free exhibit of photographs taken from the 1981 film, "Flags Over Portsmouth" produced by NHK (Japanese television) and featuring local residents in several scenes. The exhibit will open as part of Art 'Round Town on Sept. 3 in the Discover Portsmouth Center. Galleries including the DPC stay open late (5-8 p.m.) on the first Friday of each month. The display will continue through Sept. 6 and the DPC Theatre will offer continuous showings of the 1905 newsreel of the arrival of the diplomats at the Shipyard and the National Guard welcoming parade. Open daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

"An Uncommon Commitment to Peace: Portsmouth Peace Treaty 1905" — open free from 3-5 p.m. at the John Paul Jones House Museum. Created for the 100th anniversary of the Treaty in 2005 this exhibit is based on extensive local research (recognized by the Library of Congress) and tells the story of how local people made a difference in creating the atmosphere for peace that helped resolve the stalemate between the Russian and Japanese negotiators. The Treaty exhibit, created by the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum through the Japan-America Society of NH, is displayed in the John Paul Jones House Museum of the Portsmouth Historical Society at 43 Middle St., Portsmouth. The museum is open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (This exhibit is also displayed in the New Hampshire State Archives in Concord. 71 So. Fruit St., open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 4 pm).

Free maps for the self-guided walking tour of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Trail that links iconic sites of the Treaty summer, are also available at the museum, at the Discover Portsmouth Center and at the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce information centers on Market Street and in Market Square.

The commemoration of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty is supported by the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum through the Japan-America Society of NH. To learn more about the Treaty, scheduling an exhibit, NH Humanities Council lecture or other programs, visit www.PortsmouthPeaceTreaty.com or contact Charles Doleac, cdoleac@nhlawfirm.com, 436-4010.

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